Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Silver Towers Amongst Lucky 7 Landmarked Today
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 18, 2008
Modified Nov 18, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 18, 2008
Modified Nov 18, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo by Jake Dobkin.
Earlier this year you voted that the I.M. Pei-designed NYU Silver Towers were, well, an ugly eyesore. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation has held strong, however, and for five years has been fighting for their rights. Well, their day has come. The buildings, and the "Portrait of Sylvette" Picasso sculpture accompanying them, have been landmarked. From the press release:
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted today to designate the complex and its sculpture a New York City landmark, ending a five-year campaign by the GVSHP to preserve the complex.
NYU owns the land under the complex and two of the three towers (the third is a moderate-income housing complex for neighborhood residents NYU was required to build). [The University] wished to build a 40-story tower on the soon-to-be-landmarked open space north of the Picasso sculpture, blocking the public view of the art work. GVSHP adamantly opposed the plan, saying it violated the entire notion of landmarking the complex, and urged the LPC to protect the open space as part of its designation.
The LPC's designation report, approved at today's meeting, acknowledges the importance of the open space as integral to the design, thus making their required approval of construction of a tower in this area by the LPC in the future highly unlikely.
Score one for the post-war urban renewal superblock development! If the 40-story building were to have gone up, could the sculpture have become the new St. Ann's? The LPC also voted to landmark the former Baumann Bros. store (now the New School), 144 West 14th Street, now Pratt Institutute's Manhattan campus, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America Annex, Morris B. Sanders Studio and Apartment, Red Hook Play Center and Pool, and Fire Engine Company No. 54.
Tagged
i.m. pei
landmarked
LPC
NYU
picasso
sculpture
Silver Towers
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
Stargazers will have a great view of Saturn and two meteor showers in October.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
News
NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says
Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.
By
Liam Quigley
Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say
By
Ryan Kost
DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .